No matter where you go on Al Gore’s internet, whenever there is a list of the NFL’s best quarterbacks you find familiar faces near the top. Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, sometimes — when he has his turnover tendencies under control — Maye.
Jared Goff, on the other hand, typically resides further down the list. It can’t be due to a lack of production, at least this year: Goff has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in football while leading the Detroit Lions to a 6-2 record.
But while fans and analysts
might be underestimating the 32-year-old, his next opponent sure is not. The New England Patriots are well aware of the damage he has done, and is capable of doing this Sunday in Munich.
“I think Jared’s playing at a high level,” said head coach Mike Vrabel. “Continued the last three years, he’s been at a high level.”
“He’s an elite pocket passer,” linebacker Robert Spillane added. “He loves to step up in the middle of the pocket and deliver the ball downfield. Really can do it all. First overall pick for a reason, who just continued throughout his career to show why he was a first overall pick. Somebody who’s going to get the ball to all of his guys.”
Distributing the ball to the weapons mentioned by Spillane, as well as to NFL scrimmage yards leader Jahmyr Gibbs, Goff has played some of the best football of his career so far in 2026. The numbers show it, too.
In eight games thus far, he has completed over two thirds of his passes (185 of 273) for 2,134 yards, 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Whether you use traditional metrics or advanced ones such as EPA or CPOE Goff typically finds himself in the top 10 if not close to the league lead.
He might not be the same big-play hunter as the quarterback the Patriots faced last week, Green Bay’s Jordan Love, but Goff has been steady and operating well within Detroit’s offensive system.
“The quarterback runs the show very well,” said defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr. “He gets them into plays for the whole unit, and he kind of has the freedom to do that.”
There might not be one particular part about Goff’s game or his physical abilities that stands out relative to other quarterbacks, which might contribute to his perception. However, that does not mean he cannot put intense pressure on any defense.
A large part of that is his willingness to disperse the football, and the chemistry and experience he has built with the players surrounding him.
“He’s a great quarterback,” said safety Kevin Byard. “He does a great job when he’s able to stand in the middle of the pocket, he can fire across the middle of the field, deep, with obviously the weapons that they have with Jameson Williams, a guy who can stretch the field, and obviously Amon-Ra St. Brown, who’s a guy who can work the middle of the field, work the intermediates and things like that. And Sam LaPorta’s a really good tight end.”
“He loves [Jameson Williams] down the field. He loves Amon-Ra underneath, LaPorta all over the field,” added Spillane. “We know we have a huge challenge for us ahead.”
